In yet another illegal tree cutting offence in the city, a 67-year-old homemaker P Kalpana ended up paying a sum of Rs 10,000 as compounding fee to the forest department on Wednesday.
A resident of Street No. 7 in East Marredpally, she cut the tree outside her compound wall since the branches had grown into her house. Kalpana claimed ignorance about the law prohibiting chopping down a tree in public land. Even if she was aware of the rule, Kalpana should shell out Rs 550 to get clearance from the forest department. The city lost 20,733 trees between April 2012 and March 2013.
According to figures available with the forest department, 138 trees were illegally dislodged in Hyderabad division alone between April 2012 and March 2013.
In addition to that 20,382 trees were cut and removed by various departments including Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Road and Buildings department, Hyderabad Metro Rail, Irrigation department etc in the same period as a part of utility development after seeking requisite permission from the department.
As many as 39 cases have been booked against various individuals in the city during the period for illegally cutting trees against 46 cases of legally felling trees by government departments. (Check this sentence, not clear.)
In case of illegal cutting of trees, the value of trees that were lost in the period was ascertained at Rs 2,13,757 and the sum collected by the department against fines amounts to Rs 6,30,800.
The reason according to forest officials for illegally chopping down trees is lack of awareness. “One has to submit an application along with ownership of property and photo proof of the threat posed by the tree. The applicant should also write to the GHMC who will give clearance to the forest department. Then our officer will do a site inspection and the permission will be given if it is a genuine request,” said district forest officer, Hyderabad D Nagabhushanam.
According to the Andhra Pradesh Water, Land and Trees Act (WALTA), a tree can only be cut if it endangers life or property and only after getting permission from the district forest officer.
Also the Andhra Pradesh Forest Rules gives powers to the DFO to value the tree and impose a fine two, three or four times of the value of the tree based on the age of the tree.
He further said, “A majority of the people who commit the offence are well educated. It is not just about negligence towards trees, one should be aware of the rule that permission is required by the forest department,” says the forest officer.
